computer

programming. To wit: a typical

program consists of a series of instructions
issued to the heart of a computing system.
This series of instructions is called a source
code. It produces object code when
compiled. The object code is read or fed into
the computer to produce 'machine code'
which is executed. Machine and Object codes
reside in blue /black boxes and generally
aren't open to human engineering. Human
ingenuity resides at the level of the source
code production. Typically, companies and
other concerns seize this human level and
surround it with abstractions and laws that
 
THIS IS NOT A PARTY LOGO  render the code inscrutable and inaccessible
in order to profit, make sales or gain unfair
 
advantage. They close off the source code in
Hello esteemed member,
order to gain advantage.1 The source code
It is with almost no preconceived notions however could stay open and if it did, many
that we welcome you to our party, which we advantages can be gained. Say for instance,
dare say is a new progressive idea in politics. there were mistakes in the original source
Specifically, it is a new idea in the politics of code, the source can be bettered by having
one country. You have the advantage of others who can correct it. Say it was really
joining in on the ground floor and will enjoy beautiful and as near flawless as can be, it
the benefit of deploying your mind and could be re‐shared and shared again to
creative faculties towards solving some of increase the level of success enjoyable by
the problems facing us in the country. It is humans. Say Community A finds such source
now your party. codes helpful they could share the same
ingenuity with community B ‐ and thus
A Politics of New Wine –and Wineskins. increase net gain to society. All of these
Jesus, the Lord of Christians and definitely a advantages are lost when somebody closes
great moral teacher is responsible for the off the source code.
idea that new wine skins must be found new
Why open?
wine. Attempting to put new ideas in old
containers and vehicles will result in both a It is this analogy of having open source code
loss of the ideas and a ruination of the that we seek to apply to politics. And
receptacles. We are filling up this body with specifically, politics as played in the Nigerian
new ideas intended for in the Nigerian space. space. We seek to have open source politics.
They are the new wines of a new movement A kind of politics that is beautiful at source
of 'open source politics' ... and transparent. Politics with innards that
can be seen within correctable workings and
Open source and (open source code). whose processes if successful can be shared
This phrase, ‘open source’, comes to us from to replicate and better them. It is an
the world of computing and information idealistic kind of politics and the way we
technology. Specifically, from the field of imagine democracy should really work.
                                                            
1
 Closed off source code conveys the impression of  space.  To separate party machinery and operation 
black‐box operation of party politics. This opaque  from normal human needs for secrecy and 
nature and mode of operation can be the source  trickery, the so called ‘real politick’ will be the 
of much that is bad in the politics of any country or  subject of another meditation.  
That's why among the many images already ‐ remember the transparent box? I have cast
applied to your party is that of an open myself in the role of a secretary and there
transparent box‐‐with 'outside the box will be many secretaries to come. At no time
thinking', because current thinking is so should the secretary be a mouthpiece in
easily boxed‐in to old categories and himself ‐ the ideals of the party (if such
thinking is not as fluid and as airy as it might things can be determined) shall always find
be if the paradigm were different. expression through that office. But language
is tricky ‐ therefore you must feel free to
But we wanted to write you a short welcome
challenge Ekwe Pụta. He/she is your servant
letter. Maybe later we would write you
and your slave.
much. Already this has gone from being a
simple letter to a document. But ask yourself Your party's email alias is
a few questions. What might you expect opensourcepolitics2@gmail.com and a UK
from a party of intellectuals, thinkers and mobile telephone number may be used for
tireless workers? What might you expect if this personality (see at the end).
democracy were more open? How about if all
Ekwe Pụta is your masquerade and to the
the ethnicities unleashed (or trapped?) in
extent that you valorize and help him/her,
the Nigerian polity could really work for a
that will be the extent of the projection of
gentler, more agreeable ideal? Isn't it time
your collective power. And to the extent that
for constitutional reform? Can people be
he/she no longer represents your ideals is
trusted with funds? How can embezzlement
the extent that you will seek to replace and
be run‐out? What if the people desire other
change that personality to suit your ideals.
kinds of democratic arrangements and

workable ideals? We believe that some of
Once again, welcome, this is or should be one
these questions are worth exploring and
of many welcomes.
worth exploring in new ways. That is why
one of the chief ideas of this party is  
consideration of the unity question. Can you
form or forge a unity of disparate parts? Can  
mechanisms of direct democracy be made to Ekwe Pụta : Alias
work alongside those of representative Mobile : 07469717072
democracy and party politics? Can we have Email : opensourcepolitics@gmail.com
peaceful and peaceable exit out of a false Home Secretariat : virtual
union? Can we have legal referendums2 to
work at all these questions?
So you see, it isn't child's play.
Welcome to the party. You are the hope we
have got and you joining has begun to make
the difference which we expect to see.
Your party has a number of aliases and
resources. Its personality is called 'Ekwe
Pụta' in Igbo. Names are translatable
concepts, so we expect to have the same
name translated as many times as we need to
have people who understand the personality Page from an ICT dictionary, Open Source
defined________
in their languages. Clear thinking is required
                                                            
2 Referendums are systems of direct democracy mechanisms available to it to bring about
which the party plans to use in league with other positive differences everywhere it operates.